Rotary Grinding Apparatus For Blending Defects on Turbine Blades and Associated Method of Use

ABSTRACT

A grinding apparatus for use with an endoscope for viewing and blending defects on a turbine engine blade is provided. In one preferred embodiment a motorized driver causes a grinding head on the end of a grinding tool to rotate at a predetermined speed. The position of the grinding head is fixed via the operator via a trigger on the grinding tool which articulates an outer portion of a support tube of the grinding tool.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/069,625 filed Mar. 1, 2005 entitled “Rotary Grinding Apparatus forBlending Defects on Turbine Blades and Associated Method of Use”. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/069,625 is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 10/715,946 filed Nov. 18, 2003 entitled“Grinding Apparatus for Blending Defects on Turbine Blades andAssociated Method of Use”, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,899,593. Both of theseapplications/documents are fully incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to apparatus for blending defects onturbine blades such as, for example, nicks and notches. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a grinding apparatus forblending defects on turbine blades using an endoscope to view thedefects through observation ports in an engine casing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional gas turbine engines, such as those used in aircraft, areenclosed in an engine casing and include a plurality of turbine bladessecured to a drum. Such gas turbine engines, typically mounted on thewing of an aircraft, are frequently damaged by foreign objects, such assand particles, stones, or other objects ingested by the engine duringtakeoff. These foreign objects ingested by the air turbine engine oftencause generally V-shaped nicks or chips on impact along the leading edgeof the affected turbine blades. The process of replacing a turbine bladeis very expensive, so repair in place is desirable when compared toreplacement.

In order to prevent such notches or nicks from becoming more pronouncedand potentially cracking the turbine blade, it is desirable to detectthe nicks or notches early and, if possible, repair or blend the defectsin the turbine blades. In general the term blending is used in the artfor the process of smoothing a V-shaped notch or nick into a moreU-shaped configuration.

The detection process involves a visual inspection of each turbine bladethrough a borescope or endoscope passed through observation ports orholes in the engine casing. The borescope, a fiber optic cable connectedto a light source, is inserted through borescope openings within theengine case and into the engine. The small borescope openings aredisposed throughout the engine case. If a turbine blade having excessivedamage is observed, the engine must be removed from the wing of theaircraft, and then disassembled to expose the damaged blade. Only thencan the blade be accessed and repaired or replaced. This procedure istime-consuming and extremely expensive. Consequently, more practicaltechniques for repairing or blending notches or defects on an aircraftturbine blade have been developed. For purposes of the present document,the word “endoscope” may be interpreted to include rigid borescopes,flexible fiber optic borescopes and videoscopes or any similar device.

One type of apparatus used to blend defects on turbine blades in themanner described above uses a rotary grinding head or tool located atthe end of a blending tool. The tool may be passed through theobservation ports in the engine casing. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,644,394;5,803,680 and 5,475,485 disclose such apparatus.

An alternative to a tool which rotates a grinding head is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 5,102,221. This patent discloses an apparatus forrepairing or blending defects on a turbine blade using a reciprocatingmotion, as opposed to a rotary motion. Again, this apparatus is usedwith an endoscope. The apparatus disclosed in this patent is difficultto use and subject to failure due to the configuration and operation ofthe apparatus. Therefore, there is a need for a grinding apparatus toblend defects on turbine blades which is user-friendly and utilizes arotary motion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a grindingapparatus including two principal components: an endoscope and agrinding tool operatively coupled to the endoscope. Any commerciallyavailable endoscope may be use with the present invention. One type ofcommercially available endoscope which has proven to work satisfactorilywith the present invention is a PXLM415 VideoProbe system from EverestImaging and may be ordered at www.everestvit.com.

In one preferred embodiment, the grinding tool is coupled to acompressed air supply via an air supply line. Air pulses provided by theair supply reciprocate a grinding head operatively coupled to thegrinding tool. In another preferred embodiment, fluid is transported tothe grinding tool via a supply line and functions to reciprocate thegrinding head. In yet another preferred embodiment, a motorized driveris coupled to the grinding head and upon being activated mechanicallyreciprocates the grinding head.

The grinding tool is adapted to be used with an endoscope for blending adefect on a turbine blade inside a casing. The grinding tool comprises abase unit having a base, a handle extending downwardly from the baseproximate the rear of the base, and a trigger located in front of thehandle and extending downwardly from the base also. Although oneconfiguration of base unit is illustrated, the base unit may assumenumerous other configurations without departing from the spirit of thisinvention.

The grinding tool further comprises a support tube extending forwardlyfrom the base unit and being sized to fit through an observation port inthe casing. The support tube in one preferred embodiment has an openingat the forward end of the support tube, so that an articulated end ofthe endoscope may pass through the support tube and out the opening inthe support tube.

In one preferred embodiment, an extension member is hingedly connectedto the forward end of the support tube and operatively coupled to thetrigger. Because the extension member is mechanically connected to thetrigger, an operator may change the position of the extension member bymoving the trigger, thereby flexing the hinge. The extension member hasa hollow interior in which is located a piston and a spring surroundinga portion of the piston. No matter what the position of the extensionmember, air passes through the support tube and hinge to reciprocate thepiston in the extension member.

A cylindrical grinding head is coupled to a forward end of the pistonand upon activation reciprocates at a predetermined speed. Pulses of airsupplied by the source of compressed air and pushed through an airsupply line to the grinding tool push the piston against the bias of thespring in the extension member, causing the spring to compress. When theburst or pulse of air is exhausted, the spring forces the piston back toits original position. In this manner, the spring goes through a cycleof compression and noncompression as the piston reciprocates in responseto the air pulses. Other means of reciprocating the grinding head may beused if desired.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the supporttube comprises a first linear portion having an opening therein so thatthe forward end of the endoscope can pass through the opening in thesupport tube and enable the operator to view the turbine blade. Thesupport tube further comprises a second linear portion hingedlyconnected to the first portion and operatively coupled to the trigger sothat movement of the trigger causes movement of the second portion ofthe support tube. A piston and spring arrangement like the one describedabove are located in the second movable portion of the support tube. Areciprocating grinding head is coupled to the piston.

Although the present invention preferably has a hinge incorporated intothe support tube, it is within the contemplation of the presentinvention that the support tube lack a hinge. In such an embodiment, thesupport tube is preferably bent but may assume any desiredconfiguration. In this situation, a second portion of the support tubeis fixed at an angle, preferably an acute angle, relative to the firstlinear portion of the support tube.

In use, a defect on a turbine blade may be blended or smoothed using thegrinding apparatus of the present invention. The first step in utilizingthe grinding apparatus of the present invention is to couple acommercially available endoscope to the grinding tool. This isaccomplished by passing a portion of the endoscope, including the lensend, through the base of the grinding tool, through the support tube ofthe grinding tool and out an opening in the support tube. When coupledto a light source, the endoscope enables the operator to view inside theengine casing.

Then the support tube of the grinding tool, with the endoscope passingtherethrough, is passed through an observation port or hole in theengine casing. Using the endoscope, the operator locates a defect on theturbine blade by visual scanning. The operator then uses the trigger onthe grinding tool to position the grinding head proximate to the defecton the turbine blade. Then a driver is activated to supply air pulses tothe grinding tool via the air supply line. The air pulses pass throughthe support tube of the grinding tool and contact the piston, causingthe piston and grinding head of the grinding tool to reciprocate at adesired speed. The frequency of the air pulses may be varied as desiredby any known means to change the speed of reciprocation of the grindinghead. If desired, the air pulses may be used to rotate rather thanreciprocate the grinding head.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, fluid is usedto reciprocate the grinding head. The fluid is provided via a fluidsupply and passed through a supply tube to the grinding tool toreciprocate the grinding head. Any means such as a motorized pump may beused to supply fluid to the grinding tool.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a wire is usedto reciprocate the grinding head. The wire is operatively coupled at oneend to a motorized driver such as a variable speed motor, passed throughthe grinding tool and coupled to a piston which is secured to thegrinding head. Activation of the motorized driver reciprocates thepiston and grinding head. Any means such as a cam driven by a motor maybe used to reciprocate the wire operatively coupled to the piston.

Without departing from the present invention, the trigger may be omittedfrom the base unit of the grinding tool. In place of a trigger a knobmay be incorporated into the base unit. The knob may be twisted orpulled to mechanically change the position of the end portion of thesupport tube or extension member so that the grinding head is positionedproximate the defect on the turbine blade. Other means for mechanicallymoving the end portion of the support tube or extension member may beused, if desired.

In one preferred embodiment, the grinding tool has a rotating grindinghead. A motorized base unit incorporates a motor to rotate a drive wirewhich extends through a portion of the support tube and is operativelycoupled to the grinding head via a drive mechanism comprising multipleinterconnected pieces, thereby enabling the rotation to continue arounda bend or corner. Activation of the motor causes the drive wire torotate which causes the drive mechanism to rotate which is coupled tothe grinding head. In this embodiment, like the others, a knob ortrigger may be used to mechanically change the position of an endportion of the support tube or extension member so that the grindinghead is positioned proximate the defect on the turbine blade. Othermeans of mechanically moving the end portion of the support tube orextension member may be used, if desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the grinding apparatus of the presentinvention used in conjunction with an endoscope;

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1A-1A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one preferred embodiment of thegrinding tool of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view partially in cross section of aportion of the grinding tool of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3A-3A of FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment ofgrinding apparatus of the present invention used in conjunction with anendoscope; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of another alternative embodiment ofgrinding apparatus of the present invention for use with an endoscope.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of another alternative embodiment ofgrinding apparatus of the present invention which has a rotary grindinghead.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6A-6A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the hinge of the grindingapparatus of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the knuckle joint or hinge of thegrinding apparatus of FIGS. 6 and 7; and

FIG. 9 is fragmented side elevational view of a portion of the grindingapparatus of the FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there isillustrated a grinding apparatus 10 including an air supply 12, an airsupply line 13 and a grinding tool 14 for use with an endoscope 16. Theendoscope 16 has an eyepiece 17 at the end of a tube 19 and anarticulated lens end 20 moveable via movement of a lever 18 on theeyepiece 17, as is known in the art. Any other sort of viewer such as avideo viewer may be used in place of the eyepiece 17 to view or displaydata. Preferably, the endoscope 16 is used with a light source 22.Although one type of endoscope is illustrated and described, thegrinding apparatus 10 may be used with many different types ofendoscopes.

The grinding apparatus 10 of the present invention is used for blendingor retouching a defect, notch or nick 24 along the leading edge 26 of aturbine blade 28 secured to a drum 30 (only partially shown) in a mannerknown in the art. The drum 30 and turbine blades 28 attached thereto aremounting in an engine casing 32 having a plurality of observation ports34, as is known in the art.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the air supply 12 may include any knownmeans to provide air pulses and push them through the air supply line 13to the grinding tool 14.

As best illustrated in FIG. 1, the grinding tool 14 comprises a baseunit 36 including a base 38, a handle 40 and a trigger 42. The base 38is preferably made of metal but may be made of any material. The base 38has a top wall 44, a bottom wall 46, a front wall 48, a rear wall 50 anda pair of opposed side walls 52. The handle 40 extends downwardly fromthe bottom wall 46 of the base 38 proximate the rear wall 50 of the base38. Similarly, the trigger 42 extends downwardly from the bottom wall 46of the base 38 in front of the handle 40. Although one configuration ofbase and base unit are illustrated and described, other configurationsof bases and base units may be utilized without departing from thepresent invention. For example, the handle and/or trigger may be locatedat a different location. Alternatively, the handle may be omitted and/orthe trigger replaced with other apparatus.

The grinding tool 14 further comprises a support tube 54 extendingforwardly from the base 38. As shown in FIG. 1A, the support tube 54 hasa circular wall 56 having an outer surface 58 and an inner surface 60.The interior 62 of the support tube 54 is hollow and divided into anupper portion 5 and a lower portion 6 by a divider or guide 7. As shownin FIG. 1A, the endoscope tube 19 passes through the lower portion 6 asshown in FIG. 1A. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the support tube wall 56 hasan opening 64 at a forward end 66 of the support tube 54. Thearticulating end 20 of the endoscope 16 protrudes through this opening64 in a manner shown in FIG. 1 to enable the operator to view inside theengine casing wall 32. To couple or join the endoscope 16 with thegrinding tool 14 of the present invention, the articulating lens end 20of the endoscope 16 is passed through a hole 68 in the rear wall 50 ofthe base 38, through the base 38 and then through the lower portion 6 ofthe support tube 54 before exiting the opening 64 in the support tubewall 56.

In a first preferred embodiment, an extension member 70 is coupled orjoined to the support tube 54 via hinge 72. The hinge 72 pivots about anaxis 73 and is coupled or joined to the support tube 54 and theextension member 70. See FIG. 1. FIG. 3 illustrates in detail one formof hinge 72; however, any other type of suitable hinge may be used inaccordance with the present invention.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the extensionmember 70 is preferably a linear piece of tubing, made of metal, plasticor any other suitable material. As seen in FIG. 3, the extension member70 has a circular wall 74 having an outer surface 76 and an innersurface 78. However, the extension member 70 may assume otherconfigurations without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. If desired, the extension member 70 may be considered asecond portion of the support tube hingedly connected to a first linearportion of the support tube. If desired, the hinge may be omitted andthe second portion of the support tube fixed in position relative to thefirst portion of the support tube.

The extension member 70 is operatively coupled to the trigger 42 so thatthe operator may move the extension member 70 by moving the trigger 42.In one preferred embodiment, at least one wire 80 (shown in crosssection in FIG. 1A) is secured at one end 82 to the extension member 70via welding or any other suitable method and secured at the other end(not shown) to the trigger 42. See FIG. 3. The wire 80 extends thelength of the support tube 54 on the inside thereof. Although this isone mechanical way of coupling the trigger 42 and extension member 70 sothat the extension member 70 may be mechanically moved to its desiredposition, other methods of coupling the trigger and extension member maybe utilized. As shown in FIG. 2, the trigger 42 may be moved from afirst position shown in dashed lines to a second position shown in solidlines which causes the extension member 70 to move from an extended orfirst position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2 to a bent or secondposition shown in solid lines in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 3A, the hinge 72 has an outer wall 71 inside which wire80 passes. In addition, an air tube 92 passes through the hinge 72inside the hinge outer wall 71. The air tube 92 is a flexible piece oftubing having an outer tube wall 93, preferably made of plastic, whichextends from an air stop 55 in the support tube 54 to a piston 86 in theextension member 70. See FIGS. 3 and 3A.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the support tube 54 has an air stop 55 at theforward end 66 of the support tube 54 which reduces the diameter throughwhich the air flows as air passes through the hinge 72. The air stop 55has an opening 94 through which the air tube 92 passes and anotheropening 96 through which the wire 80 passes. See FIG. 1A. If desired,two or more wires or other structures may be used in accordance with thepresent invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, a piston 86 is located at least partially inside theextension member 70 and moveable therein in reaction to the pulses ofair from the air supply 12. The piston 86 has a base portion 100 and anfinger portion 102 extending forwardly from the base portion 100. Thebase portion 100 of the piston 86 has a diameter approximately equal tothe inner diameter of the extension member 70 so that air may not getthrough the extension member 70 without moving the piston 86. A spring104 surrounds the finger portion 102 of the piston 86 inside theextension member 70 as shown in FIG. 3. The spring 104 extends between astop 106 at the forward end 108 of the extension member 70 and the baseportion 100 of the piston 86. When a pulse of air passes through thetube 92, the air exerts force or pressure on the base portion 100 of thepiston 86, moving the base portion 100 of the piston 86 forwardlyagainst the bias or force of the spring 104, thereby compressing thespring 104 against the stop 106 in the extension member 70. Once thepressure from the air pulse is relaxed or extinguished, the spring 104pushes the piston 86 back to its original position in which the baseportion 100 of the piston 86 abuts a stop 110 in the extension member70. In this manner the spring 104 cycles between a compressed positionand a relaxed position in response to the air pulses generated in theair supply 12 and passed through the air supply line 13 to the grindingtool 14.

A grinding head 112 is coupled to the finger portion 102 of the piston86 outside of the extension member 70 in a manner shown in detail inFIG. 3. The grinding head 112 is preferably cylindrical but may be othershapes or configurations. Any suitable means of securing the grindinghead 112 to the finger portion 102 of the piston 86 may be used.

In use, the endoscope 16 is coupled or joined to the grinding tool 14 bypassing the lens end 20 of the endoscope 16 through the opening 68 inthe base 38 of the endoscope, through the base 38 of the grinding tool14, through the support tube 54 of the grinding tool 14 and out theopening 64 in the support tube wall 56. A light source 22 is coupled tothe endoscope 16 in a manner known in the art either before or after theendoscope 16 is coupled to the grinding tool 14. The operator thenpasses the support tube 54 of the grinding tool 14 with a portion of theendoscope 16 therethrough through one of the observation ports 34 in theengine casing 32. The operator then uses the endoscope 16 to locate adefect 24 along the leading edge 26 of a turbine blade 28. The operatorthen positions the grinding head 112 proximate the defect 24 andactivates the air supply to provide air pulses to the grinding tool 14.The operator uses the trigger 42 to move the extension member 70 andgrinding head 112 via the hinge 72 in the manner described above. Theair pulses reciprocate the piston 86 in the extension member 70 of thegrinding tool 14. The reciprocation of the piston 86 causes the grindinghead 112 to reciprocate because the piston 86 and grinding head 112 arejoined together.

An alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 4. For the sake of simplicity, like numerals will beused to describe like parts but with a letter “a” designation. In thispreferred embodiment, fluid is used rather than air to reciprocate agrinding head 112 a secured to the end of an extension member or portionof a support tube 70 a. Any method of securing the grinding head 112 ato the end of the extension member 70 a may be used. A piston 114 pushesand pulls fluid from a fluid supply 116 through tube 118 to the grindingtool 14 a. The fluid passes through the support tube 54 a includinghinge 72 a to a piston (not shown). The back and forth movement of thefluid in the grinding tool 14 a reciprocates the piston (not shown) towhich is connected grinding head 112 a. In many respects, the grindingtool 14 a is similar to the grinding tool 14 described above, exceptfluid rather than air is used to reciprocate the grinding head.

An alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in FIG. 5. For the sake of simplicity, like numerals will beused to describe like parts but with a letter “b” designation. In thisembodiment, a mechanical driver for example, a motorized driver, is usedrather than air or fluid to reciprocate a grinding head 112 b secured toa piston 86 b located at least partially in the extension member 70 b orportion of a support tube 54 b. The extension member 70 b is operativelycoupled to the stationary portion of the support tube 54 b with anarticulated hinge 72 b. See FIG. 5. Any method of securing the grindinghead 112 b to the piston 86 b may be used such as welding, for example.A motorized driver 118 pulls a wire 120 extending through the supporttube 54 b of the grinding tool 14 a around a pulley 124 and secured to apiston 86 b located in extension member 70 b. If desired, the pulley 124may be omitted. Although the motorized driver 118 is shown in onelocation, it may be located elsewhere relative to the base unit 36 b.Extension member 70 b is hingedly connected to the support tube 54 b inany operable manner. A grinding head 112 b is secured to the piston 86 bin any suitable manner or fashion. A spring 122 located inside theextension member 70 b and surrounding a portion of the piston 86 bpushes the piston 86 b back outwardly after the tension on the wire 120is partially relaxed. The back and forth movement of the piston 86 b dueto the motorized driver 118, wire 120 and spring 122 causes the piston86 b and grinding head 112 b to reciprocate. In many respects, thegrinding tool 14 b is similar to the grinding tool 14 described above,except a motorized, mechanical driver in concert with a spring causesthe grinding head to reciprocate.

An alternative preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 6-9. For the sake of simplicity, like numerals willbe used to describe like parts but with a letter “c” designation. Inthis embodiment, a mechanical driver for example, a motorized driver, isused to rotate, rather than reciprocate, a grinding head 112 c.

The grinding tool 14 c comprises a base unit 36 c including a base 38 c,a handle 40 c and a trigger 42 c. A motor 130 is located inside the baseunit 36 c and functions to rotate a drive wire 132 which extends througha support tube 54 c extending forwardly from the base 38 c.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the support tube 54 c has a circular wall 56 chaving an outer surface 58 c and an inner surface 60 c. The interior 62c of the support tube 54 c is hollow and divided into an upper portion 5c and a lower portion 6 c by a divider or guide 7 c. As shown in FIG.6A, the endoscope tube 19 c passes through the lower portion 6 c asshown in FIG. 6A. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the support tube wall 56 chas an opening 64 c at a forward end 66 c of the support tube 54 c. Thearticulating end 20 c of the endoscope 16 c protrudes through thisopening 64 c in a manner shown in FIG. 6 to enable the operator to viewinside an engine casing wall (not shown). To couple or join theendoscope 16 c with the grinding tool 14 c of the present invention, thearticulating lens end 20 c of the endoscope 16 c is passed through ahole 68 c in the base 38 c, through the base 38 c and then through thelower portion 6 c of the support tube 54 c before exiting the opening 64c in the support tube wall 56 c.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the rotatable drive wire 132 passes through thesupport tube 54 c inside a sheath or sleeve 135. One end of the drivewire 132 is operatively coupled to the motor 130 and the other end ofthe drive wire 132 is welded or otherwise secured to a first piece 162of a drive mechanism 140 which will be described in more detail below.See FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 6, the trigger 42 c is coupled to a lever bar 134 via alink 136. The lever bar 134 pivots around a pivot axis 137. Twopositioning wires 138 are welded or otherwise secured to opposite endsof the lever bar 134. As seen in FIG. 6A, both positioning wires 138extend through the upper portion 5 c of the support tube 54 c, extendthrough passages 139 in a cap 141 which covers the end of the supporttube 54 c, passages 142 in a first outer shell piece 144, passages 146in a second outer shell piece 148, through passages 149 in an extensionmember 70 c and are secured at their opposite ends inside the extensionmember 70 c. See FIGS. 7 and 9. More specifically, the ends 150 of thepositioning wires 138 are welded or otherwise secured inside theextension member 70 c.

As best seen in FIG. 9, the cap 141 is pivotally secured to the firstouter shell piece 144 via pivots 152. Similarly, the first outer shellpiece 144 is pivotally secured to the second outer shell piece 148 viapivots 154. Lastly, the second outer shell piece 148 is pivotallysecured to the extension member 70 c via pivots 156. In combination, thecap 141, the first outer shell piece 144, the second outer shell piece148 and the extension member 70 c make up an outer shell assembly 158which protects not only the positioning wires 138 but also a drivemechanism 160 shown in detail in FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, the drive mechanism 140 comprises a first drivesegment 162 to which the drive wire 132 is welded or otherwise secured.At one end of the first drive segment 162 is a drive projection 164received in a receptacle 166 of a second drive segment 168. The seconddrive segment 168 has a drive projection 170 at the end thereof oppositethe receptacle 166 of the second drive segment 168. A third drivesegment 172 has a receptacle 174 which receives the drive projection 170of the second drive segment 168 and has its own drive projection 176.The drive projection 176 of the third drive segment 172 is received andretained in a receptacle 180 of fourth drive segment 182. The fourthdrive segment 182 has a threaded end portion 184 which is joined to thegrinding head 112 c in a conventional manner. As seen in FIG. 8 each ofthe drive projections 164, 170 and 176 has a segmented outer surface soas to rotate the drive segment in which it is located or positioned whenit is rotated.

Consequently, in use when the motor 130 causes rotation of the drivewire 132, the first drive segment 162 rotates including the driveprojection 164. Rotation of the drive projection 164 causes the seconddrive segment 168 to rotate due to the interaction or engagement of thedrive projection 164 in the receptacle 166 of the second drive segment168. Rotation of the drive projection 170 causes the third drive segment172 to rotate due to the interaction or engagement of the driveprojection 170 in the receptacle 174 of the third drive segment 172.Lastly, rotation of the drive projection 176 causes the fourth drivesegment 182 to rotate due to the interaction or engagement of the driveprojection 176 in the receptacle 180 of the fourth or last drive segment168. Although four drive segments are illustrated and described, as manyor as few drive segments may be used as desired.

In an alternative embodiment, the drive mechanism may be nothing morethan a piece of flexible wire. In such an embodiment, rotation of thedrive wire may cause rotation of the grinding head through the drivemechanism. If desired the drive mechanism may be the same wire as thedrive wire.

It is to be understood that various changes and modifications may bemade to the preferred embodiments discussed above without departing fromthe scope of the present invention, which is defined by the followingclaims and equivalents thereof. For example, with any of the embodimentsdescribed herein, the grinding head may be rotated rather thanreciprocated.

1. A grinding tool for use with an endoscope for blending a defect on aturbine blade inside a casing having an observation port, said grindingtool comprising: a base unit having a trigger; a support tube extendingforwardly from said base unit and being sized to fit through anobservation port; an extension member connected to said support tube andoperatively coupled to said trigger, wherein said trigger is used tochange the position of said extension member; a rotatable drivemechanism; and a grinding head coupled to said drive mechanism.
 2. Thegrinding tool of claim 1 wherein said wherein said support tube has anopening therethrough.
 3. The grinding tool of claim 1 wherein saidsupport tube has an upper portion and a lower portion separated by adivider.
 4. A grinding tool for blending a defect on a turbine blade,said grinding tool comprising: a base including a motorized driver forrotating a drive wire; a support tube extending forwardly from saidbase, said support tube having a first portion and a second portionoperatively coupled to a portion of said base for fixing said secondportion of said support tube at an angle relative to said first portion;a drive mechanism at least partially located in said second portion ofsaid support tube and coupled to said drive wire; and a rotatinggrinding head coupled to said drive mechanism which is activated by saidmotorized driver through said drive wire.
 5. The grinding tool of claim4 further comprising a trigger connected to said base, said triggerbeing operatively coupled to said second portion of said support tube sothat movement of said trigger causes movement of said second portion ofsaid support tube.
 6. The grinding tool of claim 4 wherein one end ofthe drive wire is operatively coupled to the motorized driver and theother end of the drive wire is secured to the drive mechanism.
 7. Agrinding tool for use with an endoscope for blending a defect on aturbine blade inside a casing having an observation port, said grindingtool comprising: a base unit including a motor and a trigger; a supporttube extending forwardly from said base unit and being sized to fitthrough an observation port in a casing, said support tube having anopening therethrough through which a portion of said endoscope may pass;an extension member connected to said support tube and operativelycoupled to said trigger of said base unit; a drive mechanism located atleast partially in said extension member; and a grinding head coupled tosaid drive mechanism wherein said grinding head rotates upon activationof said motor.
 8. An apparatus for use with an endoscope for blending adefect on a turbine blade located in a casing having an observationport, said apparatus comprising: a base unit including a motorizeddriver and a trigger; a support tube extending forwardly from said baseunit, said support tube having an opening therethrough, an endoscopebeing able to pass through said support tube and out said opening insaid support tube; an extension member connected to said support tubeand operatively coupled to said trigger, wherein said trigger is used tochange the position of said extension member; and a grinding headcoupled to a drive mechanism at least partially located in saidextension member, wherein said grinding head is rotated via saidmotorized driver.
 9. In combination, a grinding tool and an endoscopefor blending a defect on a turbine blade inside a casing having anobservation port, said combination comprising: a grinding tool having abase unit including a trigger; a support tube extending forwardly fromsaid base unit, said support tube having an opening therethrough; anextension member connected to said support tube and operatively coupledto said trigger, wherein said trigger is used to change the position ofsaid extension member; a drive mechanism; a grinding head coupled tosaid drive mechanism; and an endoscope having a portion extendingthrough said support tube of said grinding tool and out said opening insaid support tube.
 10. A method of blending a defect on a turbine bladeinside a casing having an observation port with a grinding apparatusincluding a grinding tool and an endoscope, said method comprising:providing a grinding tool comprising a base, a support tube extendingforwardly from said base, said support tube having an openingtherethrough, an extension member hingedly connected to said supporttube, and a grinding head coupled to a drive mechanism located at leastpartially in said extension member; passing a portion of said endoscopethrough said support tube of said grinding tool and out said opening insaid support tube; passing said support tube through an observation portin a casing; locating a defect on a turbine blade with said endoscope;positioning said grinding head proximate said defect on said turbineblade by moving said extension member; and activating a driver to rotatesaid drive mechanism and said grinding head.
 11. The method of claim 10wherein positioning said grinding head proximate said defect on saidturbine blade comprises moving said extension member of said grindingtool via a trigger.
 12. A method of blending a defect on a turbine bladeinside a casing having an observation port with a grinding apparatusincluding a grinding tool and an endoscope, said method comprising:providing a grinding tool comprising a support tube extending forwardlyfrom a base, a drive wire adapted to move rotate in said support tubeand a grinding head coupled to said drive wire via a drive mechanism;providing an endoscope; passing said support tube and a portion of saidendoscope through said observation port in said casing; locating adefect on a turbine blade using said endoscope; positioning saidgrinding head proximate said defect on said turbine blade; and rotatingsaid grinding head via a motorized driver.
 13. The method of claim 12wherein positioning said grinding head proximate said defect on saidturbine blade comprises moving a portion of said support tube of saidgrinding tool via a trigger on said grinding tool.
 14. A grinding toolfor blending a defect on a turbine blade, said grinding tool comprising:a base including a motorized driver; a support tube extending forwardlyfrom said base; a drive mechanism at least partially located in saidsupport tube and comprising multiple rotatable drive segments; and arotating grinding head coupled to one of the drive segments of saiddrive mechanism which is activated by said motorized driver.
 15. Agrinding tool for blending a defect on a turbine blade, said grindingtool comprising: a base including a motorized driver; a support tubeextending forwardly from said base; a rotatable drive wire operativelycoupled to the motorized driver; a rotatable drive mechanism at leastpartially located in said support tube; and a rotating grinding headcoupled to one of the drive segments of said drive mechanism which isactivated by said motorized driver.